St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-01

| the conclusion of the race chose the NOlun
| teer to meet the Thistle in the international
contest.
The naval board appointed to consider
plans for floating batteries, rams and other
means of naval coast defense reassembled in
Washington, and referred to subcommittee
a number Of plans and inquiries received
The sum of s2,0 OOOis available for types
Of any plan the board may recommend,
and Congress is to decide upon the fur
ther steps to be taken. Captain Phythian,
chairman of the board said that
there was more pressing necessity than
people imagined for the construction
of defenses for the harbors. Vessels suited
for coast defense would be nothing like as
expensive as those designed for offensive
naval warfare and he thought all the cities
on the Atlantic coast might be provided with
suitable defenses for perhaps s25, 100000.
The announcement of Sir John Mac
Donald's appointment as Canada's repre-
sentative on the fisheries commission is said
to be premature, as the cabinet has not yet
come to decision in the matter, though it
is generally believed that Sir John will as
sumo the position, and that D. S. Thompson,
minister of justice, will present the Do
minion's case before the commissioners.
The Mexican Congress has been opened by
President Diaz. His message dwells on
the material progress Of the country and
the need and growth Of education. He
says that harmonious relations continue to
be cultivated with the United States
and If there be not wanting diplo-
matte complaint of one against the
other country, it is due to private
individuals who deem themselves injured :;
and this must be considered as conse-
quence of the contact which neghborhood
produces; and this contact is growing more
and more intimate daily, by reason of traffic
on the railways, which, on the other hand,
are destined to scatter positive benefits on
both nations
Justice Hallett, of the United States Dis
trict Court for Colorado, has rendered an
opinion in two cases of the government
against the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad
Company, deciding as to the rights of said
company to cut timber from public lands
under their granting act of June s, 1872, and
the general right-of-way act of March 8, 1875.
The judge holds that the right to take timber
from public lands under said acts extends
laterally some distance from the right of
way, and to such lands as may be reached by
ordinary transportation by wagons, and
not otherwise. The timber must be used for
the construction of the road at or near
the place where delivered, and, if carried by
the road to points distant from the place of
taking, the company are liable in trespass for
the value. He further holds that the gov
ernment was bound to prove that the timber
was taken from public lands, and. having
established that fact the burden of proof as
to where and for what purpose the timber
was used is upon the railroad company. In
the absence of evidence to prove that the
timber was used in place adjacent to that
from which it was taken and for the purpose
authorized by law, the government is enti-
tied to Judgment. 1t is estimated that over
81, ,OOO,0 is involved in pending cases af-
fected by this decision.
Assistant Secretary Maynard has grantedthe
application of firm in Mobile, Ala, for re-
fund of duties paid on ale and porter. The
water gave out on board the vessel by which
the liquids were imported, and, in order to
allay the thirst of the crew, several barrels
OF ale, porter and ginger ale were consumed.
The importer protested against paying duty
on the empty barrels.
The suit of S. Carsley against Bradstreets'
Mercantile Agency, in Montreal, has been
settled by the payment of $1,000 damages,
awarded to Mr.. Carsley by the court The
suit grew out of a publication in the agency's
notification sheet, which complainant averred
injured him in his commercial standing.
The American Congress of Forestry. in
session at Springfield, ILL.,, has elected the
officers: President, C. R. Prin-
gle, of Atlanta vice presidents, H. G. Jolly,
Of Quebec; Joseph II. Fay, of Boston G.
q. Parsons, of Colorado, and Albert Ken
ney, of California; treasurer. Martin Con-
rae, of Chicago; secretary, B. E. Fernow,
Of Washington; recording secretary, Charles
Q. Bell, Of Bonneville, Mo. Resolutions were
adopted providing, among other things, for
,ommitteeto urge the adoption by Congress
of bill for the encouragement of forestry
and protection of forests on government do
mains; recommending that all national
societies interested in the promotion of agri-
culture, horticulture, forestry and kindred
subjects hold their annual meetings next
year at the same city and at the same time;
md creating committee to draft bill to be
presented to legislative bodies of the various
States for the appointment of State forestry
commissions and the protection of forests
md encouragement Of tree growth.
William Dresbach, one of the principal
nanipulators of the recently collapsed wheat
leal in San Francisco, has filed with the |
county recorder full statement of his liza
,ilities and assets. A summary shows as
ollows: Money borrowed on wheat and Sc
ured, 81, $4,000; owing to the Nevada Bank,
'6, ,553, 900; losses on contracts, 100000; |
osses on cargoes en- route, $685., 900, making
otal Indebtedness of more than $7,5OO,OOO
which is practically unsecured, and which
8 supposed to approximately represent the
oss in the great deal. Charles F. Reed, who
ppears as guarantee for the enormous loan |
0 the bank, is farmer of Yolo county,
al, and owns large tracts of land there. He
= brother of Mrs. Paran Stevens, of New
FORK.
e. B. Sargent, an examiner of the British
vii service commission, arrived in Wash
lgton and called upon the American civil
,rvice commission, who explained to him
,e workings of our system. In the after
l4 -x>l II. r. I.